Friday, May 7, 2010

What is your creative process?

I read the blogs of many card makers and scrapbookers. I am constantly amazed at the designs they come up with for their creations. Sometimes they have a new card or tag or scrapbook project to show every day.  Seeing their work prompts me to ask the question....what is your  creative process? Do you start with a sketch? Do you have the idea in your head and then quickly transfer that to paper?
I recently offered to design an invitaion for a wedding shower for the daughter of a very good friend. The shower will be a "Kitchen" shower because the bride likes to cook and bake so that was my starting point. Having recently competed the Vintage Kitchen Tag Swap with my swap pals through Elizabeth, I decided to kind of do a retro/vintagey invitation. OK, first I wrote the text of the invitaion and then had to decide on an image...
Color? Black and white? Small, medium or large image?

A stamped image (mixer...thanks Crafty Secrets) in red or black?

A sparkly crown for the Queen of the Kitchen and then...black mat or red? Ribbon?
This is the finished invitation...

Made the image larger...matted in red with a stamped black mixer....took out the ribbon...rounded the upper corners of the top and bottom layers...added a black and white checked scalloped border paper at the bottom and added faux stitching.


 You can see that this is pretty far removed from the original design.
No sketch..just winging it! I have to see it printed out before I can make changes.
It took me all day until I came up with the final design because I have to fiddle with it forever!
Now I have to cut and assemble everything and get them in the mail today!

I will also be including some scanned and printed recipe cards for the guests to use to write several recipes for the bride-to-be. I wanted to keep the embellishments fairly flat so that the postage would be resaonable.


Back to my original question.....what is your creative process?
 Am I the only one who takes forever to design something?
Just curious.
Thanks for your thoughts!
xoxo

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow Joyce, this is great....my creative process is to????? That's right, haven't got one yet...I will be honest I have an easier time seeing something already done and then changing what feels like "my" style...which might be mine or not! LOL
This is one thing that keeps me from getting started...and I need to get better about it...I am still trying to figure out my postcard swap....I have the elements now how the heck do I put it together??? LOL Love the finished invitation...so cute! :)

Paula Clare said...

Hi Joyce!
I LOVE the design and the idea you came up with! If winging it does that for you, then why have another plan? lol

My creative process is very much like yours...it starts with an idea then kind of "mushrooms" from there. I too need to see the printed outcome before I can tweak the finished design...

My ideas often come from personal likes and tastes...so I'm not sure I'd be a very good designer for the masses...but I sure love it when I come up with something unique and totally "me". :-)

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Every once in a while I see something I like and think, "I'd like to try that!" I'm not creative like you are, so I don't have a process; I just start with the basics and go from there.

In recent years, my creative process involves touring etsy and following up with a paypal transaction!

ImagiMeri said...

Hi Joyce,

I think we're all pretty similar in our processes. Mine kind of works the way yours does, but sometimes I'll do all the steps in my head and then just go for it. Sadly, my garbage cans get over loaded very quickly with all the rejects. Can you imagine looking through all those crafters that you admire trash cans???? I bet we'd be screaming and crying at what they thought was unworthy and just tossed!

Hugs,
Meri

Becky Garrison said...

While I do enjoy making cards by sketches, most of the time I have an idea in mind - usually inspired by a paper, ribbon, button, etc. - and just 'piddle' until I make it work. To me that is the fun of creating - taking little bits and pieces that are almost nothing on their own, but putting them together with other pretty things and making something beautiful!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Awesome invites Joyce!
I sometimes "copy" things, change them up a bit to make them "mine"...read blogs and magazines and every once in awhile...I have my own idea!
Warmly,
deb :)

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

BRAVO!!! These turned out ADORABLE!!! I'm sure the gal who ordered them is thrilled to death!
To answer you question...my favorite "paper" magazine is 'Paper Crafts'. Lots of inspiration there. : )
xo,
Mary Lou

Lori said...

This is a great question! It all depends on what I'm creating. The larger the project--say an altered item or a mini album, it takes me longer to complete the project. If it's a card, tag or such, perhaps not as long. It also depends on my daily moods, if I'm motivated and how inspired I am. There are many factors involved in the process of scrapbooking (for me, anyway). I have days where everything comes together so smoothly and other days I create--recreate--toss out--start over, etc before I finally come up with something I like. Lately, I'm finding lots of inspiration on YouTube! My favorite magazines for inspiration are any of the Stampington mags (love 'em!) or Scrapbooks, etc.

Kateyed said...

Well, I have had a nice long visit here and got caught up with you and your life. Sounds like you are having a great time being a grandmother.
Frankly, I cannot wait ( but hope there is a husband first, is it easier that was.

Hope you will come and visit us soon. Kat is in Mexico for the month at an intensive language program but still got a blog out today. I was a little shocked.

Congratulations on 100 followers. Now for the big party!

Suz
http://katsuijewelry.blogspot.com

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